New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-10-01

should not be cast down over the first
failure of the Thistle. But it Is whispered
that there is another reason for this.
He would like the cuu to remain here until he has
another chance to capture it himsolf with another
cutter Be that as it may, there is nothing that
would afford American yachtsmen so much solace
for the less of the cup the know ledge that Lieu
tenant HEM and his charming wife had carried it
away with them They wouldn't be begrudged
brief enjoyment Of 1t.
JOY AT THE PROSPECT OF A FINE RACE.
1t can never be predicted what sort of wind Is
coming out of fog and therefore. yachtsmen were
delighted but not surprised when outside the Hook
1t was found that fresh easterly breeze was blow
ing with promise Of remaining and growing
stiffer and the fog had lifted considerably
There is going to be race" exclaimed
everybody joyously and all depression of spirits
vanished. What mattered the mist and the rain
aud the leaden sky and the leaden sea and the ab-
sence of every glimpse of sunshine. with the pros
poets of race in view After a critical glance at
the weather nautical men predicted that the race
would be glorious one-a regular fighting. slash
ing race. There was jump of sea on and the
dark waves were tipped with feathery foam, but
all the tossing and commotion OF old Neptunes
locks was born of the wind prevailing aud not as on
The Electra reached Scotland Lightship at 10
o'clock. The ra was then pouring down hard and
steadily. 1t was "dirty weather" with ven
geance but no yachtsman would mind the rain
while the wind held. and there was every promise
Of that. The Thistle aud Volunteer were beating
about the LightshIp under mainsail and Jlb. once
the Volunteer reached through the lee of the
Thistle IN q way that sent Volunteers stock up
like a balloon, but tho cautious ones drew
no inferences from that They know that
these preliminary canters are deceptive
sheet trimmed little too Hat would
make ali the difference between fast sailing and
poor sailing without the cause being observable to
spectators.
The wind was east by north TIE conditions OF
the race required that the yachts should sail
twenty miles to windward or leeward and return
The direction of the wind made it necessary that
the wIndward leg should be sailed first. So the
tug HaviIand with faithful NeIs Olsen on board
was hailed and x-Commodore Smith chairman OF
the Cup Committee. having stentorian voice,
roared out the orders:
"Log off twenty miles east by north, then an
chor hoist the red flag and give four blasts Of the
whistle every minute"
AYE aye, SIR" was the response, and with
snort the Haviland went pounding through the
waves that broke in foam over her bows to execute
the ORDER Now everybody was on the qai vive.
The Electra had previously anchored off Scotland
Lightship the starting line being between her and
the lightship. The yachts hoisted forestaysails
and working topsails, their shippers probably
thinking that with the latter they could lie closer
to the wind than with their big clubtopsails
aloft. rhe Thistles forestaysail was OF dirty
white in striking contrast to the beautiful cream
color free from the suspicion of o b0tch or stain
of the rest of her sails. And it did not set at all
well. But in all other respects tie Thistle was
picture which q yachtsman would goat over
Long, graceful, the curve of beauty showing fre-
auently in her lines; PROV long and sharp; stern
tapering with long overhang, towering spars and
abundant canvas-she looked like veritabe
waterwitch and she slid over the seas, or rather
quite as much into them as over them. with an
easy grace. as though she cruSnea
them and scattered them into foam
because she despised tho power they
would assert over her. Not so exqni-
s,cly beautiful but more powerful looked the white
hulled Volunteer as she crushed through the waves
that leaped defantly at her. and tossed them aside
white and powerless.
STARTING THE FLEET RACERS.
Bang! the preparatory gun is fired from the Eiec-
ira at exactly 1890 o'clock. And now ike TWO
swift runners about to engage in accntest OF speed
eager to obtain an advantage and give none the
two yachts approach the starting line and then re-
cede from IL and again draw near 1t.
Bang! again. 1t is the starting gum And now
like hounds slipped from the leash the two yacnts
fairly leap through the water for the starting hne'
The gun found the Thistle the nearer at the
starting line, and she has the lead. Captain Barr
wishes to obtain for his boat the windward posi-
t,on Also He shaves close to the Electras stern
as possible and with o swashing sound that Is
music to yachtsmens ears the cutter rushcs away
on the starboard tack for the starting line reveal
ing a good section of her red bottom as she heels
over to the breeze and bursts asunder the seas that
wouId stay her flight 1t fine sight aud the peo-
ple on the Electra applaud her as though she were
some creature really endowed with life. AM Zap
tain Barr congratuates himself that he has left
no room for his rival to squeeze between him and
the wind.
But Yankee shippers know trick or two Cap
tam Half never yields the windward position to Q
rival when there IS ghost of . chance Of obtain
ing 1t for his own craft. He too. shaves as close
to the Electras stern as it is possible to without
coming In contact with 1t, and then brings the Vol
unteel right up in the eye Of the wind. Her sails
flap, but ter own impetus carries her ON for 6fty
yards then he pays of again. the calls Gil aud tho
Volunteer slides into the windward position. A
rafting round of applause is the need of
praise that old Hank" HaE gets from
Continued o. Second Pase